Volunteer Site Host

FROM: https://www.volunteer.gov/s/volunteer-opportunity/a09SJ00000KW9UV

ADDRESS: 65670 US-26  Welches, Oregon, 97067

DATES: 2026-03-01

DEPT: Bureau of Land Management

JOB DESCRIPTION:

General Description: The volunteer host’s primary function is to contribute to a positive, enjoyable recreational experience for each visitor. Additionally, hosts assist BLM staff to open and close the site each day, manage shelter reservations, answer visitor questions, encourage visitor rule adherence, and perform general maintenance around the site.

Duty Location: Wildwood Recreation Site, located in/near Welches, OR is situated along the Wild and Scenic Salmon River adjacent to the Mt. Hood National Forest. Wildwood is a popular year-round day-use site with multiple walking trails, various individual and group picnic areas, two large reservable shelters, two reservable picnic kitchens, sport fields, and a seasonal swimming area.

Wildwood Recreation Site is located about 15 miles from Sandy, OR.

Physical Requirements: Based on labor-intensive duties such as landscape maintenance and cleaning, volunteers must be able and willing to walk up to 5 miles per day and lift up to 25 pounds. Volunteers will also spend most of their work hours outdoors, subject to varying weather conditions.

Required Skills

Current driver’s license in order to operate a BLM golf cart or UTV.
Ability to live in a remote area with little to no cell phone service.
Strong customer service skills and ability to consistently interact with members of the public.
Ability to perform moderate physical activity/labor in an outdoor environment.

Specific Job Duties

Work collaboratively with other volunteer hosts and BLM staff to open and close the main gate to the site at the beginning and end of each day.
Perform evening site security, inform the public of closing time, ensure all visitors leave before the gate is secured.
Welcome visitors to the site, answer questions, provide directions, and encourage rule adherence.
Assist visitors to use the Ventek machine for day-use fee payments.
Manage scheduled group reservations for the site’s four shelters
Clean and prepare shelters and picnic kitchens prior to the group’s scheduled arrival.
Greet group leaders, direct them to their assigned areas, share pertinent site information, and explain rules and expectations for shelter use.
Ensure shelters are left litter-free and tidy when a group departs.
Maintenance of family picnic areas
Clean all BBQ grills and fire pits after each use and empty ashes into ash dumpster near park office.
Empty trash bins from each picnic area.
Maintenance and cleaning of the site’s restroom facilities
Inspect, clean, and restock paper supplies and soap products on a regular, scheduled basis.
When bins are full, remove trash and replace liner.
Note and report larger maintenance issues to BLM staff.
Litter patrol and trash collection
Make multiple scheduled rounds of the site each day to collect litter from grounds, paths, parking areas, picnic units, roadways, etc.
Collect trash from trash cans around the site (shelters, sport fields, picnic areas, and parking lots)
Landscaping maintenance
Weed-eat high grass at foundations, fences, signposts, along walkways, etc.
Use a backpack blower to clean leaves, fir needles, and other natural debris from paths, picnic units, shelters, parking lots, etc.
Mow sport fields and grassy areas around shelters at least once per week during spring and summer months.
Miscellaneous maintenance duties
Periodically clean fish viewing window
Restock maps and brochures at various information kiosks and trailheads
Inform BLM staff of any infractions, emergency situations, or other circumstances requiring BLM action, including needs for more supplies.

Schedule: Hosts typically work 6-8 hours per day, 4 days per week. These workdays usually include weekends to supplement BLM staff schedules.

Volunteer schedules are subject to change. Hosts should speak with the site supervisor if they need specific days off or if they need to take an extended leave of absence (longer than a few days).

Training Requirements (provided by BLM)

UTV or golf cart operation and safety training
Blood-borne pathogen
Site-specific job training

Volunteer Benefits: In exchange for their service, volunteer hosts are provided an RV site with full electric, water, and sewer hook-ups for the duration of their service term. As representatives of the BLM, hosts are required to maintain a high ethical standard of behavior both on and off duty. The host’s residence is required to be maintained, neat, and tidy at all times. No permanent structures or plantings are allowed at the host pads without authorization from the BLM.

Eligible Volunteer Reimbursements

Daily reimbursement at $9.50/day/Host

Tagged as: SPRING '26, SUMMER '26